You gott be kidding Inhalers really

[MaxiMe]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44627...c-inhalers-be-phased-out-protect-ozone-layer/#

I really don't think this is worth our tax dollars being spent on stuff like this. I'm give me a break 2 puffs on a rescue inhaler is gonna destroy the planet REALLY?

 

[granfire]

<facepalm>

ok, i don't buy it.
There are not that many astmatic people around, and the puffers are not that big.

However: The price of them will be nearly double or more even...plus you have to have a doctor write a script....
CACHING....

 

[MaxiMe]

<facepalm>

ok, i don't buy it.
There are not that many astmatic people around, and the puffers are not that big.

However: The price of them will be nearly double or more even...plus you have to have a doctor write a script....
CACHING....

Trust me I know daughter uses one, I'm already looking for more side jobs. I just hope they add more hours and daylight to the day so I can go work more.

 

[Steve]

I'll have to look into it more. Not enough information.

Based on quick google-fu, the CDC has some fast stats regarding asthma. About 24.5 million people have asthma. That's a lot. And based on what my pediatrician told me when our toddler had bronchialitis, it's on the rise.

Whether it's killing the ozone layer or not, I don't know. Is it like the hair spray bottles in the 70s? If so, what's the big deal? Figure out a different way of dispensing it... no biggie. Or what am I missing?

 

[MaxiMe]

I'll have to look into it more. Not enough information.

Based on quick google-fu, the CDC has some fast stats regarding asthma. About 24.5 million people have asthma. That's a lot. And based on what my pediatrician told me when our toddler had bronchialitis, it's on the rise.

Whether it's killing the ozone layer or not, I don't know. Is it like the hair spray bottles in the 70s? If so, what's the big deal? Figure out a different way of dispensing it... no biggie. Or what am I missing?

Not much, just the extra trips to the doc and cost. And they wonder why healthcare costs are out of control and skyrocketing.

 

[MA-Caver]

It's one of the thousands of things the government wastes spending on. It's gotta stop.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I'll have to look into it more. Not enough information.

Based on quick google-fu, the CDC has some fast stats regarding asthma. About 24.5 million people have asthma. That's a lot. And based on what my pediatrician told me when our toddler had bronchialitis, it's on the rise.

Whether it's killing the ozone layer or not, I don't know. Is it like the hair spray bottles in the 70s? If so, what's the big deal? Figure out a different way of dispensing it... no biggie. Or what am I missing?

"Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere."

Over-the-counter generally means competition, which can lower costs significantly. It also means (since last year) that money spent on such devices cannot be paid for by medical savings plans, and most insurance companies won't cover OTC drugs. People pay for them themselves, out of pocket.

After the end of the year, if you're an asthmatic, you will need a prescription to get an inhaler. Which will mean you need health insurance. And you'll pay (or the insurance company will pay) much higher prices.

This benefits the drug companies. It benefits the insurance companies. And it benefits the argument in favor of Obamacare, since it now puts people who need inhalers in a position where they must demand that their insurance cover their needed inhalers and that they be given insurance if they don't have it currently. One of the issues seen with Obamacare is that millions of uninsured also tend not to want or to choose health insurance (even if that is a stupid choice) because they are young and presumably healthy. But many young people have asthma these days; it's becoming common. There's a solution for ya.

I don't think this has JACK to do with the ozone. Seriously, what a crock.

But perhaps I am just too paranoid.

Suppose it was aspirin. Know how much a tablet of aspirin costs in the hospital? About $10. Per tablet. Yeah, it's like that.

 

[HammockRider]

" currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene mist is available in the U.S. "

I wonder if good ol' Armstrong Pharmaceurical has much of a lobbying presence up on Capitol Hill?

 

[Big Don]

" currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene mist is available in the U.S. "

I wonder if good ol' Armstrong Pharmaceurical has much of a lobbying presence up on Capitol Hill?

If they do, they didn't donate to Obama...

 

[granfire]

" currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene mist is available in the U.S. "

I wonder if good ol' Armstrong Pharmaceurical has much of a lobbying presence up on Capitol Hill?

If they do, they didn't donate to Obama...

Obama? Screw him. Line the FDA pockets. Rumor is that after they finished their sting with Uncle Sam they have a cushy job waiting in the public sector. So they don't tend to rock the boat.

It's one of the thousands of things the government wastes spending on. It's gotta stop.

That would be making the consumer pay.

 

[Steve]

"Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere."

Over-the-counter generally means competition, which can lower costs significantly. It also means (since last year) that money spent on such devices cannot be paid for by medical savings plans, and most insurance companies won't cover OTC drugs. People pay for them themselves, out of pocket.

After the end of the year, if you're an asthmatic, you will need a prescription to get an inhaler. Which will mean you need health insurance. And you'll pay (or the insurance company will pay) much higher prices.

This benefits the drug companies. It benefits the insurance companies. And it benefits the argument in favor of Obamacare, since it now puts people who need inhalers in a position where they must demand that their insurance cover their needed inhalers and that they be given insurance if they don't have it currently. One of the issues seen with Obamacare is that millions of uninsured also tend not to want or to choose health insurance (even if that is a stupid choice) because they are young and presumably healthy. But many young people have asthma these days; it's becoming common. There's a solution for ya.

I don't think this has JACK to do with the ozone. Seriously, what a crock.

But perhaps I am just too paranoid.

Suppose it was aspirin. Know how much a tablet of aspirin costs in the hospital? About $10. Per tablet. Yeah, it's like that.

I guess I can see where you're coming from. In some cases, though, prescription drugs are less expensive than OTC due to subsidies, competition and generics. I've come out of the pharmacy paying less than $2 at times with my 3 year old. I'm not saying that this will be the case. Just that it isn't ALWAYS the case.

As for health insurance. Well... you know where I stand on that. I believe that, hell yeah, everyone should have it. Particularly kids.

 

[yorkshirelad]

"Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere."

Over-the-counter generally means competition, which can lower costs significantly. It also means (since last year) that money spent on such devices cannot be paid for by medical savings plans, and most insurance companies won't cover OTC drugs. People pay for them themselves, out of pocket.

After the end of the year, if you're an asthmatic, you will need a prescription to get an inhaler. Which will mean you need health insurance. And you'll pay (or the insurance company will pay) much higher prices.

This benefits the drug companies. It benefits the insurance companies. And it benefits the argument in favor of Obamacare, since it now puts people who need inhalers in a position where they must demand that their insurance cover their needed inhalers and that they be given insurance if they don't have it currently. One of the issues seen with Obamacare is that millions of uninsured also tend not to want or to choose health insurance (even if that is a stupid choice) because they are young and presumably healthy. But many young people have asthma these days; it's becoming common. There's a solution for ya.

I don't think this has JACK to do with the ozone. Seriously, what a crock.

But perhaps I am just too paranoid.

Suppose it was aspirin. Know how much a tablet of aspirin costs in the hospital? About $10. Per tablet. Yeah, it's like that.

I got bi-lateral pneumonia while in basic training at Fort Benning a few years ago, I was in hospital for a week, but ever since then, my lungs haven't been 100%. Over the counter inhalers are extremely dangerous. I tried one about a year ago and my heartrate went through the roof. It actually hurt to inhale the thing, I thought I'd damaged myself. I was prescribed a rescue inhaler by the Army doc and it eased my symptoms for the rest of my tenure at Fort Benning. I really think it's a good thing to ban Over the counter inhalers.

What worries me is that kids are suffering more and more from asthma and COPD every year. The government then gives carte blanche to the pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies, by allowing the phama companies to charge whatever they wish for potentially life saving medications. They also maintaini that Albuterol (Salbutamol to our British buddies) can only sold through a prescription, which allows insurance companies to increase premiums.

If you, as a patient, have been told be a physician that you have asthma, you should be able to buy Albuterol over the counter. I have a friend who, in the process of having an asthma attack, was driven to a pharmacist, and was refused an inhaler by the pharmacist on duty because he didn't have a prescription. The whole thing is dangerously silly.

 

[cdunn]

The patents that protect the formulations for albuterol that do not require chloroflorocarbon propellants expire in 2012. The price is about to come down.

Other things: The chemicals involved were blanket banned, by treaty, except where completely irreplaceable, in 1987. The invention of albuterol means... the old cfc containing propellants aren't irreplaceable. This was decided by the FDA in 2006. The EPA issued the regulation in 2008.

 

[Monroe]

I didn't know you could buy them over the counter. I've only ever seen them rx.

 

[billc]

I have heard people say that the non-chloroflourocarbon are not as effective, has anyone used both?

 

[punisher73]

I heard the newstory last night on the radio, so it was just a quick blurb. The ban, as others have stated, is only for Primatine Mist. One of the other reasons was their claim that specialists have said that the OTC inhalers do not help with asthma and is more of a quick 15 minute "band aid" for the problem so you have to keep using it more and more.

 

[punisher73]

Suppose it was aspirin. Know how much a tablet of aspirin costs in the hospital? About $10. Per tablet. Yeah, it's like that.

This is part of the viscious cycle. In the US, we can't deny someone medical care if they show up to the hospital. If they can't pay, the hospital has to recoup it's losses in some other way. They jack the price of items to take into account the other factors of paying the doctors, nurses, running the hospital etc. and pass it onto the insurance companies to get reimbursed.

Many people don't realize the strain this puts on the system of non-paying people. Talk to someone in business and ask them how many items they have to sell to replace a stolen item, or a manufacturing job how many more parts they have to make/sell to replace a bad batch.

 

[granfire]

I heard the newstory last night on the radio, so it was just a quick blurb. The ban, as others have stated, is only for Primatine Mist. One of the other reasons was their claim that specialists have said that the OTC inhalers do not help with asthma and is more of a quick 15 minute "band aid" for the problem so you have to keep using it more and more.

Hmm, I am skeptical.
It has been a sad trend to take stuff off the shelves to replace it with more expensive RX stuff.

The system is broken.

But blaming the rescue inhalers for the ozone hole....sheesh.
I think it's more the fault of the billions of gallons of hairspray used in the 60s and 70s....